Articulated doll



0a. 29, 1935. M. s. LOWER 2,019,148

ARTICULATED DOLL Filed April 5, 1934 6 U j Z /5 ii Z6 Z0 r 2/ 1 50 20 5 v M /15 M E j 1s. INVENTOR L MEL WM .5. Lon 1? 8% 7 BW ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNTTEB STATES PATENT OFT'TQE ARTICULATED pom.

corporation of Ohio Application April 5, 1934, Serial No. 719,094

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to the construction of dolls and particularly that type of doll in which the head and limbs are articulated so that movement thereof is permitted. While the invention has been particularly designed and used in connection with the manufacture of dolls of a rubber or rubber-like composition, it will be apparent that it may be embodied in other forms of dolls.

Specifically the invention relates to that type of articulated doll in which the head and limbs are attached to the body by means of a continuous tension band located in the torso and passing through hooks attached to the limbs and head, the contraction of the band holding the movable parts in close relation to the torso, but permitting movement with respect to the torso. This general type of construction is well known.

One objection to this form of articulated doll lies in the fact that it has been impossible to secure a firm joint between the head and neck, and the head is soloose that it will easily get out of place on the neck. By the construction herein shown the tendency of the head to get out of place is materially reduced by reinforcing or stiffening the neck portion of the doll and drawing it into close engagement with the opening in the head. As the means employed tends to expand the neck portion of the torso against the base of the head and the latter is backed up by a plug or disk, the head and torso are held together more firmly than in former constructions.

It will be appreciated that the invention is shown in its best known or preferred form, and, while this construction is one which has been found to carry out the purposes admirably, changes and modifications may be employed as will be readily suggested to those familiar with this art.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a view looking at a complete doll assembly in vertical section toshow the interior construction; and

Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

In the drawing the torso is indicated by the numeral I having sockets or apertures 2 and 3 for the arms 4, and sockets or apertures 5 and 6 for the legs 1. The neck is indicated at 8 and is formed with dome-shaped flange 9 adapted to seat in a correspondingly shaped socket Ill at the base of the head. Interiorly of. the head is located a. plug or disk I! comparatively heavy and provided with a circular rib i4 seated in a circular recess about the neck. The arms 4 are provided with similar disks, somewhat smaller, shown at i5 and the legs with disks i6.

Through each of said disks is located a pin, that from the head being indicated by the numeral ii, and the others by the numerals i8. 5 These pins are formed with hooks 20 projecting into the body and adapted to receive a continuous contractile elastic band 2!. The tension of the band draws all of the movable members into close-fitting contact with their respective sockets. 10

Heretofore the neck 8 has been constructed without any means to stiffen it adequately and as the head fits over the neck, it has easily become loose and gotten out of place.

To carry out the purposes of the invention I provide a plug or bushing 25, preferably made of rubber which fits within the neck. The bushing is formed with a central aperture 26, preferably conical in form with the small diameter at the bottom of the bushing, through which the pin ll passes. The bushing is deeper than the length of the pin so that, when the doll is assembled, the band 2| is drawn into the'aperture. As the aperture is reduced in diameter at its lower end the tension of the band will force the bushing into the neck cavity as shown. The drawing of the head downward is resisted by the movement of the plug upward under the tension created by the band 2| and as a result the neck of the body is forced into close nesting contact with the neck portion of the head. This gives a more secure connection for the head than has been possible in former constructions and reduces the tendency of the head to become displaced on the neck of the torso. The pressure exerted by the band upon the neck portion of the torso eliminates necessity for cementing the plug or bushing in place.

It will be understood that the invention is subject to variations with the scope thereof as set out in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

An articulated doll comprising a hollow torso, limbs and a head, the torso being provided with a neck portion seated in the base of said head, anchoring pins secured to said limbs and head and projecting into said torso, a plug loosely disposed in said neck portion and having an opening through which the adjacent pin projects, and an elastic band disposed within said torso and connected to the inner ends of said pins for maintaining said limbs and head in assembled relation, the portion of said band adjacent said head being maintained in engagement with said plug so as to exert an outward pressure thereon to frictio-nally maintain said plug in engagement with said neck portion for reinforcing the same.

MELVIN S. LOWER. 

